The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18

Mr.. Benet then went on to say that himself
and Mr. w. H. Parker had been elected dele
gates to the Convention; that Mr.. Parker had
failed to attend the Convention because Is nav nav
ventton, he felt that he did not represent the
views of the congregation of Trinity Church,
Abbcville.
THE BISHOP AFTER TAKING COLUMN IN
WHICH TO URGE THE RECEPTION OF THE
NEGRO, DIsMIssEs A MAJORITY OF THE
CONVENTION IN SIX LINES.
The Bishop: 1.-THE Chair regrets, Of course,
the withdrawal Of the brethren. 1t can do no
more than simply express its regrets. or
course the withdra wal of the delegates does
not withdraw the parishes"
these were announced 80 rapidly that 1t was
impossible for even o stenographer TO take
them down. And the secretary so announced.
Bishop announced that the ten clergymen
and ten parishes constituted quorum, and
directed the secretary to call the. roll of the
parishes with view Of ascertaining who had
Withdrawn and what parishes were represent
Tine roll was called, and 1t was then ascer-
tained that fourteen delegations had seeded,
as follows; st. Philips, Charleston; st. Johns,
Peebes; PeEbee; g. g. AMhsSEss tnfS chafestoa a
Saints, Waccamaw; st. PauTs, Charleston;
Christ Church, Greenville Trinity, Able
willie; st. Thaddeus, Aiken; Grace Church,
Black hs s'e Oak; St. st. Pauis, summervilie,.
The roll was subsequently called and 1t was
found that thirteen parishes remained. repre-.
sented as follows: st. Marks, Clarendon
Church on Edisto; Claremont; Stateburg;
Trinity, Columbia; Grace Church. AD Dderson;
Church Of the Holy Communion, Charleston;
of the
Rock Hill: Church on Johns Island Christ
Church, Charleston.
The Rev; R; S. Trapier, Of st; IMchaers, and
the only clergymen who withdrew.
After IL had been ascertained that q quorum
was present the Convention went on with its
regular business. The Rev. John Mccullough
was elected secretary, and Mr. F. a. Mitchell,
treasurer.
NEXT CONVENTION AT ANDERSON.
The reports of the standing committee. the
trustees and the treasurer were read, and on
motion OF Col. E. NJ. Rucker the meeting Of
the next Convention was fixed for the second
wednesday In May. 1888. at Grnce Church.
Anderson.
The Bishop stated that the announcement of
day, and at halfpast7 o'clock the Convention
adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.
The announcement in the Ne,0s and Courier
yesterday morning that large number of the
delegates to the South Carolina Episcopal Dio-
ton with that body was subject Of much
comment and surprise all over the city. No
such action had been anticipated, even by
those who understood the almost impossible
chance OF reconciling the two great parties in
the Convention or the color line ostensibly
the now fatal division In the Convention was
a point or parliamentary proceeding, but 1t is
now very, generally agreed that the settle.
49, hA Hon fnI Nf fyt
the Convention, either In accordance with or
against the Bishops construction Of the
canons OF the Church, would not have pre-
cluded warm debate on the color question.
The fair inference from the proceedings is that
1t was the-apparent impossibility of the two
parties meeting on common ground, which
was the virtual ground Of separation.
HOW THE TROUBLE CAME UP.
Up to the time OF the withdrawal of twenty
parishes and four clergymen from the Conven-
ton the proceedings had gone no further than
a debate on the organization OF the body.
had been duly organized by his declaration to
that effect. accordidg to the third section or
Canon VIII, which is as follows:
"When the Convention shall have been call
the names of the clergy, and then Of parishes
and deputies after which, If quorum be
found present. the president shall declare the
Convention duly organized; provided. that
In accordance with Section of the same
canon n committee on credentials Of the cler.
gy was then appointed to examine and report
on tho list Of the clergy as given to the secre-
tary by the Bishop. When this committee
had reported II was moved that 1t be adopted.
Col. John T.. Haskell moved, thereupon, that
the report be adooPte6 with the emission n! Of
Church, upon which motion arose the deus
sion which ended in the seeding OF many
members from the body.
Under the Bishops construction Of the Sec
ton of the canon above quoted, after his de-
claration had been made as to the organiza-
tion, that organization could not be question
ed, ruling which practically denied the
right OF either laity or clergy to revise the
Bishops list OF the clergy, or In any way to
question its authoritative makeup. AS con.
sequence, 1t was impossible for the laity and
the few ministers In opposition to make sue
mentary bodies for the removal OF Mr.. Pol
lard, and they, therefore, 'seceded" as their
recent action is now generally termed.
THE sECEDERs STAND FIRM.
Itwas expected on Friday night that the se-
celing members Of the Convention would
have returned yesterday morning. The re-
suit, however. showed that they were liked In
their determination to remain outside Of the
Convention until the latter should yield. The
lay deputies from the parishes and five minis
ters who Ind Withdrawn assembled at the
church yesterday morning and organized
themselves into separate body, and held q
long session In the Sunday School building OF
st. Philips Church. According to the state
ment of the secretary OF this new Convention
there were present deputies from twenty par
ishes and four ministers. The meeting was
organized with Mr.. ]. ]. Pringle Smith as
chairman and Mr.. w. A. Gammell, deputy
from st. Paul's Church, Summerville, as secre-
tary This meeting was secretsession. The
officers OF the body declined to admit O repre-
sentative OF the press, and there was no COM
munication between this body and the out
side world except in one instance when 1t re-
turned message TO the Diocesan Convention
in session in the church.
After the adjournm ent Of the seeding dele
gates, the chairman OF the meeting said to a
Reporter that the meeting was altogether an
Informal one and that II was rather In the ma
ture OF conference He said that he desired
that no publication of its proceedings should
be made at this time, for reasons that appear
ed best to the body. 1t was contemplated,
however. to prepare, at very early date, q
circular, in which the position Of the seeding
delegates would be clearly set forth, and that
News ana Courier What this body did, how
ever, con be surmised from its communica-
tlon with the Convention during the day.
AS stated yesterday morning. the detection,
II IL may be so termed, of O part Of the body
still LETT the Convention with q quorum. The
proceedings were, therefore, opened with the
usual devotional exercises. which were con-
Quoted by the Rev. John Johnston and the
Revs Messrs. Joiner and Kershaw. On mo-
order to have the presence of O quorum made
n matter of record. The roll was accordingly
called, and thirteen out OF thirty.three par
iahos were found TO be preset and all the MIN